One-man folding automobile-top.



E. P. PORCHER.

ONE MAN FOLDING AUTOMOBiLE TOP APPHCATION FILED my I. 1915.

1344,5566. Patented 0%. 23, 191?.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

\u 0 Kg @5 \1 m fsm E. P. PORCHER. ONE MAN FOLDING AUTOMOBILE TOP.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 7. I9l5- Patented I nntvann r. roncnnn, orcrrannnsron, scorn canonrn n.

SHE-MAN FQILDING AUTOMOBILE-TOP.

I a ail tbihom flf-may concern: Beitknown that I, EDWARD P. Pononnn, acitizen of the, United States, residmg at Charleston, JState of SouthCarolina, have invented certain new, and useful Improvements 1n One in.the county of Charleston and Manv Folding Automobile-Tops; and I do 3clear, and exact l .hereby dec'larethe following to be a full,

description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in theart to whi hit appertains to make and use x The invention, relates toimprovements in folding automobile tops.

I The object of. the present invention is to improve the construction offolding automobile tops andto provide a one man folding automobile topof simple and comparatively inexpensive construction adapted to bereadily applied to an automobile and capable of being readily foldedwithout necessitating the chauffeur or other person leaving his seat inan automobile.

- A further object of the invention is to provide a folding automobiletop of this character equipped with opposite cushion- ,ing devicesarranged to receive the automobile top in the folding operation thereofand aclapted to enable the top to be dropped back without liability ofinjuring the same I or the vehicle.

I theaccompanying drawings and pointed out 7 Another object of theinvention is to providea one manfolding automobile top adapted in theunfolding operation to stretch the top and lock the parts in theiroperative positions.

I With these and other objects in view the invention consists in theconstruction and novel combination and arrangement of-parts hereinafterfully described, illustrated in inthe claims hereto appended, it beingunderstood that various changes in the form,

,proportion and minor details of construcbe resorted to withoutdeparting tion may f th d o e a from the spirit or sacrificing anyvantages of the invention.

; In the drawings :F1gure 1 1s a side elevation of a folding Qautomobiletop 7 constructed in accordance with this invention and shown applied toan u om b e.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation partly in section illustrating theconstruction of the mechanism for. lowering the automobile top by hand..,from the chauffeurs seat,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Eatented trot.. 1917.

Application filed may 7, 1915. Serial m. 26,585.

Fig. 3 is a detail View or the forward standard and the transversetopconnecting bar or rod, I

Fig. i is a side elevation of one of the forward standards the top barbeing in. sec tion,

Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the bars or v Fig. 8 is a plan vviewof the bracing rod or member of the lazy-tong frames, Fig. 9 is a detailview of one-of cushions for supporting the automobile top in its foldedposition, i

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the plate which forms a seat for theautomobile top,

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of a folding automobile top shown applied toan automobile and illustrating another form of the invention,

Fig. 12 is a detail view of the transverse rod or bar and two of thebars or members of the lazy-tong frames,

Fig. 13 is a side view of one of the forward inclined standards,

Fig. 14 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same,

Fig. 15 is a detail view of one of the bars or members of the lazy tongframes,

Fig. 16 is a side elevation of one of the side cushions,

Fig. 17 is a vertical sectional view of the same,

Figs. 18 and 19 are detail views illustratside cushion.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawings.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 10 inclusive of the accompanyingdrawings, 1 designates vertical standards pivoted at 2 to opposite sidesof an automobile body 3 at the rear portion. thereof and provided withdownwardly and rearwardly extending arms at arranged at an obtuse angleto the standards 1 preferably at an angle of 120 degrees but theanglemay of course be varied as will be readily understood. T he pivots2 at opposite sides of the automobile body also connect rear inclinedstandards 5 to the automobile body and the said standards 5 areconnected at their 'upper ends by an inthe side a 1? toproyide for thepivotal '5 8 Which is formed integral with the vertical standards 1 asclearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, but any other desiredconstruction may of course be employed. The front portion of thecovering is supported by side 10 lazy-tong frames each comprisingcrossed bars or members 9 and lf) pivoted together at 11 ata pointintermediate of their ends. The bars or members 9 of the side lazytongframesextend downwardly and rear- Wardly from the covering 7 and theyare connectedpat their front ends by a trans verse rod or bar 12 asclearly shown in Fig.

7'of the drawings. The other bars or 113.93% bers 10 of the lazy-tongframes are connectgued at their front ends to side longitudinal bars 13and they extend upwardly and rear- 7 wardly from the: same to the upperportion of the'standards l and are pivoted to the sam at 14. The lowerends of the bars ormembers 9 are provided with inwardly er.-

tending laterally projecting engaging portions '15 which extend beneathcombined bracing and operating bars 16 pivoted at their front ends tothe longitudinal side bars 1-3 by suitable pivots 17 and extendinglongitudinally from the side bars13 to the 1 standards 1 and provided attheir rear ends with pinsor projections 18 which slidably engage slotsor grooves 19 of the said stand 3.5 ards 1.

The slots or grooves 19 which form tical guides or Ways are provided attheir lower ends with rear recesses 20 with which the ins or projections18 interlock when the cover is in its extended position and the"aiitomobiletop is arranged for use{ The tension or strain on thebracing 01f operating fodsbr members 16 maintain the laterallyprojecting pins firmly in engagement with the recesses at the lower endsoi the grooves or slots ofthe vertical standards 1 and When it isdesired to fold the top the pins or projections 18 are sprung out ofengagement with the said recesses to permit them to ride up the groovesor Ways 19.

When the :bracing or operating bars or members 16 are drawn downwardlyin the grooves or Ways19 by the means her inafter described they engagethe laterally pro ecting terminal portions 15 of the bars or mem- I bcrs9 and spread the lazy-tong-frame s push the longitudinal side bars 13forwardly and stretch the flexible covering 7 of the automobile top. Theupwardly and rearwardly inclined bars or 'members of the lazy-tongframes are provided at'their rear portioiis vvith bends 21-Whichlaterally ed set the le mas of the bars or members 10 iv ts 11 and therear from the vertical plane of the r 'at ac ture thereof as indicatedin Fig. 3 of the drawings.

in arranging the foldingtop for use the bracing or operating bar 16 isdrawn down- Wardl airthe laz -ton lrames stretched A) [a n o by means ora flexible connection 22 preferably consistnig of a small Wire cablelocated connection is secured 1 side of the automobile. .The flexible atits rear end 23 to the rear standard 5 and it extends forwardlytherefrom over an-up'per pulley 2 1 and their downwardly'under a lowerpulley 25 which is l catxl the lower end of the guide'or say 1.9 asclearly shown in Fig.4- ofthe drawings, The front end of the flexible.

connection extends upwardly at the rear side of the lower pulley and issecured at 26 to the end or the bracing and operating bar or member 16.a The flexible connection;

is pulled upon when the forward standard 1 has moved approximatelyone-half the distance to its vertical position and the cable operates todraw the bracing rod oroperating rod 18 downwardly and causes such rodormember to engage the recess 20 and become interlocked with thestandard 1.

in order that this operation may be performed freni the chaull'eurs seatWithout leaving the same, the side-arms 4- are connected by. siderodsQ'Z With side arms 28 of a rock shaft extending across the body ofthe automobile and mounted in suitable bearings thereof and providedwith a central arm 30 Which is connected by a vertical rod er bar 31Withan arm 32 of a transverse carrying a gear 3st preferably a spree byS n. ing a ce, not shown located adjacent to the seat Within easy reach.Any suitable operating means may be employed and various other forms ofgearing may .be usedand ifdesired a motor may be em? ploy l foractuating the shaft .The side arms or the rock shaft extend upwardly andardlv when the automobile top is in cred or operative position and theec ing rods .27 enablethe rock shaft nieously swing the arm 4: for- 35,a bottom connecting portion 36 and an a m 37 which is suitably securedto the side of tie automobile body. The vertical sides 35 Wine formguides for a plate 36 have diposed on them coiled springs. 37interhetiveen a bottom plate 38 and an upwmw slioaole pl ib o; WillOllis cushioned by (ii L bel springs 37.1 The upper plate 39 Wheel andadapted to be connected "lret gearing with a suitable operatQ andrearwardly to lower and raise which is adapted to slide upwardly anddownwardly on the vertical guiding sides of the bracket is curvedbetween the same at 40 to receive the rear inclined standards 5. Theside cushions yieldably support the folded automobile top as illustratedin dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings and they prevent injury to thetop or the automobile body in'lowering the top which may be permitted todrop by gravity upon the said cushions.

In Figs. 11 to 19 of the accompanying drawings is illustrated anotherform of the invention in Which the one man folding automobile topcomprises forward inclined standards 41, pivoted at 42 at opposite sidesof the automobile body 43 and provided with rearwardly extending arms 44disposed at an acute angle to the standards 41 preferably at an angle of135 degrees but the angle may be varied. These arms 44 are connected bysuitable pivots 45 to the lower ends of inclined rearstandards ,46 andthey serve to permit the top to drop lower in folding than when the rearstandards are connected with the standards 41 at the piv ots thereof.These arms also permit the top to fold easier and they furthermore serveto stretch the covering 47 in arranging the top for use as the said armscause the standards 41 and 46 to move in opposite directions.

The standards 41 and 46 at opposite sides of the body are connected atthe top by transverse rods or bars preferably formed integral with thestandards but they may be made in any other desired manner. The flexiblecovering 47 is supported between the front and rear standards 41 and 46by braces 48 provided with a transverse connecting bar or portion andthe front portion of the flexible covering is supported and stretched bylazy-tong frames composed of oppositely inclined bars or members 49 and50. The bars or members 49 which are connected by a transverse rod orbar '51 are pivoted intermediate of their ends at 52 to the bars ormembers 50 and they extend downwardly and rearwardly from connectingbars 53 pivoted at their front ends at 54 to the longitudinal side bars55 and similarly connected at their rear ends 56'to the downwardly andrearwardly inclined bars or members 49$ wardly' inclined bars or members50 are 'pivoted at their front ends at 57 to the longitudinal side bars55 and at their rear ends 58 to the upper ends of the inclined standards41. The rear ends of the bars or members 49 of the lazy-tong frames areprovided withlaterally projecting studs 59 operating in longitudinalgrooves or ways 60 located at-the inner faces of the standards 41 andextending downwardly from the upper portions thereof as clearly shown inFig. 14

55 of'the drawings. The standards 41 are pro- The upwardly and rearframes and the front longitudinal bar. The

lazy-tong frames are automatically operated in arranging the automobiletop for use by means offiexible connections 62 consisting of light wirecables or other suitable devices and secured at their rear ends at 63 tothe rear standards 46 and at their front ends 64 to the ends of the barsor members 49. The flexible connections 62 pass over guide pulleys 65and extend downwardly therefrom to the rear ends of the bars or members50 and when the standards 41 and 46 are separated the fiexibleconnections are pulled upon and draw the rear ends of the bars ormembers 49 upwardly and stretch the lazy-tong frames to their extendedposition.

' The joints of the lazy-tong frames are preferably provided withprojecting'ears to enable the parts to hold compactly. In order toenable the automobile top to be dropped without necessitating thechauffeur leaving his seat, cushioning devices are located at oppositesides of the body to receive the rear standards 46. Each cushioningdevice comprises a. vertical guide tube 66 composed of twosemi-cylindrical sections spaced apart to form vertical slots 67 andsecured together by upper and lower clamps 68 and 69 which are bolted orotherwise fastened to the side of the automobile body. guide tube whichreceives a coiled spring 7 0 has slidably mounted on it an arm 71provided with a collar or band 72 slidably embracing the vertical tubeand provided with a pin 73 which rests upon the upper end of the springwhereby the latter is adapted to cushion the arm 71. The arm 71 has aconcaved upper face and is adapted to form a seat for the standard 46and when the top is dropped the standards engage the cushions atopposite sides of the automobile body and the top is gently lowered toits folded position without injury.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 10 inclusive thegrooves or ways of the front standards 1 are formed by slots in separatepieces 72 secured to the upper portions of the standards 1 while in theform of the invention illustrated in Figs. 11 to 19 inclusive thegrooves or ways of the standards 41 are preferably formed by groovingthe standards. Any other suitable The form of guide, however, may beemployed ,the receee; -said mew-011g frame-being'eisn previdedmwifih aera-acting" member pivesa'lly connected Wlth the aucomefieafly movingthe sa i the grew "e or'w'ay Whfijhfi 50p 1s raised;

2. In 21 fielding automebile 5032 01? h classdeseribee the eembinetienof great rear" stendarfls, lezyteng frame eompesed 0f 7 ers, one aft-hebars 01" pivetedbers 01' memembeus belng leet'ed at its reazend to thefmni; s-tgndezs'd andihe ether be? er member having rear engagingpomien, an

1 operating bar 03 member peveiec at its fifit end to Y the lazgfiiong5mm arranged to" 'siidebly engage the rear efigaging pert .ef the saidbar um? slidably connecte l the-ironiatar dari; and means actuated byih'e relafiive m ovemene sit-he freehand rear standards for eu'iematieeily operating; Iiezyfigeng f wifll the s I frenfb mandate} and g'mem'ls earned by the autemebiletep 250 member along name, Said. meansbeingeenneefied cemposed" of rearwardly inclined eur ward ly anddownwardly extending bars, the up- Werdiy extending. bar being pivotedat its franb-end 'eo-the sald-le'ngltudmal ban, an operatmg bar ormember pivoted at lts from 4:

end so the lengitudinal ,ba'ruend engeg'i ng the rear end Of thedownwardly extending, baref the Iazytong fremegancl shdably connee-tedits rear end t0 the said :stenaermf mes-lasing;automatically.ectuaeingflle operating bar on-membee ,tu'operetefile" jIna foiriing autemobile topefthe cmeserfned ihe-xcombinatien" of" e,stander-1i." previcled wizh & longitudinal; gieeve er Wey;

lazy. tong frrainee v eeinprieinge 'o'esed, mem-' bers pivoted i'egeiher intermezliete 9f. their.

ends and extending leegitudinafly' 0f the V top, one bf thezmembez'sfieing piveted te e the said standeikiendihe ofqhefi member be:

jag" prm'zded "it'sieziz and Wi'ish, a 'project; 111g engaging-;p0r'e1en. ax-mi lo gmidmal-ly dispesed epejmt ifigi m1? pivo'te at 7its fl ont ezed bq tize'lazy tong'frameanc elidably en geg g put a paintmiennedmtemf V 1ts'" emis the engaging pori ien of the said member 05lazy tengfmme, sand. operatmg bar being also sliclebly eenneeted atitsreeren with the-greeve if-Way 9f the standard, anfi meansfeeactuating the opereting ear.

" be-s molly whez'eef i e1 5); my s gnature in at two witnesses.-

EDEVAEB PORGHER.

